Chapter 21

Melinda stares out the window of the car, watching Gotham go by. She's excited, but really nervous. What's he going to really be like? Is he anything like Alfred described? Is he better? Worse…? What if he doesn't like her…? What if Bruce doesn't allow her to stick around…? She closes her eyes, leg bouncing up and down in anticipation.

Fortunately and unfortunately, they arrive at the hospital shortly. Alfred parks and opens the door for her. She climbs out, not used to having the door opened by someone else. The two approach the hospital doors. Alfred nods to the front desk staff in greeting and leads her to Dick's hospital room in the pediatric side of the hospital. Alfred enters the room first, everyone turns their attention to him.

He looks at Dick who looks just as anxious to meet his long-lost relative. Alfred steps aside to allow Melinda into the room. She steps forward, coming to his bedside. She gives him a once over, broken arm, bandages on his arms, scratches on his cheek. His stormy blue eyes meet hers. They both stare at each other, as if waiting for the other to start speaking.

"Uh… It's um… nice to meet you." Dick says.

"Likewise." Melinda agrees. "My name is Melinda."

"Dick." He says back, holding his hand out to her, having to be his left hand.

"Dick?" She questions. "Oh, short for Richard… Right." She takes his hand, giving it a shake.

"Yea, I get that a lot. Part of why I like going by Dick, tends to throw people off." Dick admits. Melinda smiles.

"Thank God you have a sense of humor…" She mumbles, giggling a bit. "But mom said that our uncle Rick was a goofball." Dick smiles.

"He still is." Dick says. "He still gives me ideas for pranks to pull on Bruce." He smiles mischievously. Melinda laughs a bit again. She looks at who she assumes is Bruce, who doesn't look amused. "Oh, I should introduce you." Dick speaks up, he gestures to Bruce. "This is Bruce Wayne, he adopted me."

"Pleasure to meet you sir." Melinda says, holding a hand out to him. Bruce smiles and takes her hand, giving it a firm handshake.

"Pleasure is mine, Miss Melinda." Bruce says. "How long have you known Dick was your brother?"

"It's been about nine years. Mom told me when I was eight that John Grayson was my real father and she took me to Haly's Circus to meet him, but she saw he and Mary were happily married with a child, so she changed her mind. She loved them too much, didn't want to ruin their happiness" Melinda explains. Dick looks down a moment then, he looks up at her.

"Kinda wish she had introduced us." Dick says. Melinda looks at him. "I'd have liked to know my sister. But I understand where she's coming from. What's her name?"

"Meili Lin." She says, smiling. Realization grows in Dick's eyes.

"Oh Meili! Everyone talked about her. Said she was really sweet and adorable. Kind of timid at times, but she was adored by everyone. Had the brightest smile." Dick describes. Melinda tears up, but is still smiling.

"She was. She was all that and more." Melinda says.

"Was… She's…?" Dick surmises. Melinda sniffles, nodding, biting her lip. "Oh… I'm so sorry…"

"No, no. It's fine. I'm fine." She says.

"I know it's not fine… I know how much it hurts…" Dick says softly.

"I know you do… God I know…" She says the last part quietly. "I know what Zucco did… And I'm so sorry that bastard went anywhere near your family…" Dick reaches over and takes her hand.

"Our family…" Dick says. "John was your father too… I know you didn't really know him, but it doesn't change the pain… and to lose your mother too… I know it's hard… It's ok to not be ok, Mel." She starts sniffling more, closing her eyes, sobbing. Dick sits himself up, hugging her. She grasps onto him, hugging him back. As sad as it is, it's a very heartwarming moment between siblings. "I'm so sorry…"

"I-I'll be ok…" She chokes out. "It was… so recent… but… I-It's the reason I sought you out… Because I didn't want to be alone…"

"You won't be alone again… Not as long as I'm alive…" Dick says softly. Even though they barely know each other, here he is, giving her a comforting hug, and it's helping her to settle down. Dick looks at Bruce questioningly. Bruce bows his head, thinking. He then stands up, walking to talk to Alfred alone. Dick looks back at his sister, he starts singing softly. His mother's lullaby. She soon pulls away, looking at him.

"You have a good voice…" She says, smiling softly. "What was that song?"

"It was a lullaby my mom used to sing to me to calm me down." Dick explains. "I sing it to myself sometimes when I need it. Or when others need comfort, like you." She smiles a bit more, wiping her tears.

"Thank you… I really needed to cry… I'm just, sorry I broke down like that…" She says. "I didn't mean to make this about me…"

"But it is about you. You're my sister. It's as much about you as it is me." Dick assures, sitting back a bit. He was sitting on his legs before, which was rather uncomfortable since they still hurt. He looks at his legs, doesn't look like the stitches came loose, that's good.

"Oh… your legs too…" She comments. "What on earth happened…?"

"That's… kind of a long story…" Dick says. He rests back. "Basically we have a very crazy great grandfather who's in an owl cult."

"Oh. Oh…" The realization that hits her. "Oh wow… Uh…" She shakes her head, huffs lightly, a slight laugh.

"I know… It's really nuts… but it's real." He says. "He's part of what's called the Court of Owls. Immortal being pulling the strings in Gotham." Melinda raising an eyebrow.

"Does Batman know about them?" She asks.

"I'm honestly not sure, last I knew he thought they were a myth. Reason why I know is also a long story…" Dick admits, smiling a bit nervously.

"Can I ask what that story is?" She asks.

"Welllll…" He trails off, looking away a moment, then looks back at her. "There's a secret organization called the Light who kidnapped me and used me to get Bruce to join them. To get me back, Bruce brought Batman and Robin with him and Vandal said The Light would protect me from the Court of Owls aaand Batman said they're not real. Little did he know at least back then that they are in fact real and very terrifying…" He takes a deep breath, letting it out. "So, there's that."

"Okaaaay…" She looks utterly bewildered. "You're messing with me, right?"

"I wish I was." Dick answers. "Stay whelmed though, it's not… so bad…"

"How is it not so bad?" She questions.

"I… got a boyfriend?" Dick says quietly, shrugging nervously.

"Oh… Well, that's nice. What's his name?" She asks.

"Wally West." Dick answers, gesturing to said Wally West. She turns to him.

"Oh… Hi there." She says, holding her hand out to him.

"Hey." He says, smiling, taking her hand, giving it a shake. "Nice to meet you, I'm Wally."

"Melinda." She says, smiling a bit. Wally smiles playfully. "Nice to meet you." Their handshaking slowly picks up in speed until it's rather fast, causing them both to laugh and break apart.

"You're gonna fit in great." Wally says.

"Well thank you." She states. Dick then gestures to Artemis and Barbara.

"This is Artemis, she's a new friend of mine, and Barbara, a long-time friend." Dick introduces. Artemis nods in acknowledgement.

"Hey." Barbara says. Melinda waves a bit at them.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Alfred asks.

"She doesn't seem to really have anywhere else to go, and she's his sister. How can I say no?" He asks. "Right now, this girl needs a home." Bruce states. Alfred nods in agreement.

"She seems to be a sweet girl, she would make a great addition. I just worry for her connections with the Mob." Alfred mentions.

"That's a concern of mine too, but Dick is the only family she has left. I wish to keep her safe." Bruce says.

"Of course, sir. When I return home, I shall prepare a room for her." Alfred states.

"Thanks, Alfred." Bruce says. With that, they re-enter the room. "Melinda, I would like to ask you something." Melinda looks at Bruce curiously.

"Yes?" She asks.

"I was wondering, do you have anywhere to go at the moment?" Bruce asks.

"Not really… I was probably going to stay at a hotel here in Gotham. There's nothing really left for me in Blüdhaven." Melinda explains.

"Why is that?" Bruce asks.

"My… non-biological father… was in with the Maroni Crime Family in Blüdhaven, after my mom divorced him, she remained with the Maronis as she had nowhere else to go, but after her death, I didn't want to stay, so I planned to leave Blüdhaven behind, start a new life here in Gotham. So I could be closer to my brother." She explains.

"Well… I would like to offer you a place to stay, in my home. If you would like a job, I could set you up with one. You'd be free to stay as long as you want to get your foot on the ground." Bruce offers. Her eyes widen with shock, then smiles with delight. Then her smile fades and she looks back at Dick, then back at Bruce.

"I… haven't told you everything about me… And I'm afraid you'll find out and… not trust me…" Melinda says quietly.

"You'd be surprised." Dick states, she looks back at him. "If you're not ready to say anything, that's ok. Take your time." She sighs.

"The man who raised me for eight years, even though he's not my biological father, when I was born, he signed the birth certificate and gave me his last name… My name is Melinda Zucco… The man who raised me was Anthony Zucco…" She explains. Everyone's eyes widen with shock and somewhat horror, well, except Artemis who doesn't know the relevance, and Alfred, who already knew. "I'd… understand if you wanted nothing to do with me…" Dick looks down a moment, thinking, really just thinking of the best way to address with because he knows what he wants to say, he knows how he feels about this, but… "Dick…?"

"Sorry, just… trying to think…" He admits, he looks up at her, then smiles. "Don't worry, I'm not blaming you for anything. Sounds like you and your mother were just as much victims of his, I mean, she left him twice, you don't do that in a healthy relationship."

"No… he was so… abusive, and possessive… narcissistic… angry constantly… always berating, always belittling… Doing everything he could to make my mom's life miserable as punishment for her trying to leave him… And I think he knew I wasn't his daughter… Whether I was or not, he'd have mistreated me anyway…" As she talks, she becomes shaky, trembling, her voice just as much. Dick grabs her hand.

"You're free of him… He rots in prison thanks to Batman and Robin." Dick says. "You're not who you were raised by, you're who you become. And I see a beautiful, wonderful, kind, loving, sweet person who I'm glad is my sister." Dick says, giving her hand a squeeze. She sniffles a bit, but smiles. He opens his arms up, she bends down for another hug. "I'm sorry for what he did to you, you and your mother… but we're together now."

"I started to heal after mom left him, but the memories, the pain… It's… still just… right there… It's awful… Like I can't ever truly escape him… Like I'm the scared little girl I was back then…" Melinda explains, gripping to her little brother, still shaking so much.

"I get it…" Artemis speaks up. "My dad was the same, still is. He's behind bars right now, but he'll get out, he's crafty like that. He pushed me and my sister to the edge, to the point my sister ran away." Melinda looks up at her, separating from Dick to do so better. Artemis comes around so she's in front of her. "It was really hard, everything my dad put us through, but that's why we show them we're not the scared little girls they tried to make us." She places a hand on Melinda's shoulder. "We fight what they tried to teach us and become stronger. Show them they can't push around like they used to." Melinda smiles and hugs Artemis. Artemis hugs her back.

"Thank you…" She says softly. "We're stronger, no matter what they did to us, we'll always bounce back…"

"That's right." Artemis says, separating from her, holding her shoulders, both smiling at each other.

"And there we go, Artemis made another friend. You're real personable, blondie." Wally teases.

"You know, Melinda." Bruce speaks up. Melinda looks at him. "If you wanted, I could help pay for a legal name change. So, you could be free of his name."

"I'd love to." She agrees.

"What would you change it to?" Dick asks.

"What about Grayson-Lin?" She asks, looking at her brother. Dick smiles.

"Sounds good to me." He says.

From a distance, a figure watches… Deathstroke. He hears footsteps behind him.

"Hello, Billy." Deathstroke greets, not turning away.

"Talon…" William mutters.

"Same difference." Deathstroke comments. Will sighs heavily and comes up beside him, dropping to one knee and looking where Deathstroke is observing. "I thought you were a night-owl."

"Any updates?" He asks, ignoring his comment.

"He's still in the hospital, as you can see. Though there seems to be a new development. A girl came into his room, someone I am not familiar with, but they seem close." He explains.

"Any way to hear what they're saying?" Will asks.

"Not without getting a mixed signal, I didn't leave a bug in the room in case it was discovered." Deathstroke answers.

"Saying you're not good enough to place a bug in a hospital room?" Will comments.

"It would be a risk I'm not willing to take. If it were to be discovered, there would be panic and caution. I am working to gain Bruce Wayne's trust." Slade explains.

"Coward…" William mutters, crossing his arms.

"May want to say that louder, I am an older man. Younger than you by far, but, obviously more mature." Deathstroke comments. William growls in frustration. "I love riling you up."

"I'm the immature one…?" William questions.

"Indeed, you are. Now, quiet."

"Why?" He asks.

"Because your voice is annoying me." Deathstroke states plainly.

"When are you going to start training him?" Will asks, not caring if he's annoying.

"After his hand heals. To really gauge his skill." Deathstroke explains. "That will be weeks from now, thanks to you, I'm assuming."

"You know what they say about assuming." Will states.

"Enlighten me." Deathstroke says.

"Stop baiting me, you asshole…" William snaps.

"You're the one letting yourself be baited. I'm simply having fun." Deathstroke remarks. "By the way, have you ever had one of those dessert coffees? I recommend." William rolls his eyes and turns away, crossing his arms. "Don't start pouting, a colleague of mine invented pouting."

"You're impossible to talk to…" Will mutters.

"I am a delight to be around." Deathstroke says.

"Sure… Be delusional." Will remarks. Their bickering really could go on and on, more or less Deathstroke making jabs and William arguing back, but they continue to observe, quietly…

A quick note for you all! I am posting a rewrite of Episode 25 and 26 of Young Justice as it falls in line with my story on Ao3, so if you want to read it, you'll have to go onto Ao3. Another announcement, I have a pole on my fanfiction page that asks if you all wouldn't mind if I gender bend Dick Grayson, there are reasons for as to why I want to use this plan, but if ultimately it's decided no, that's ok. I want this to be just as enjoyable for you guys as it is for me. Anyway! See you later!